Goodreads

Meta

HVBookthongs

Custom enameled bookthongs. You can order bookthongs in any quantity but save with multiple items ordered. You can choose one photo/cover or several. Your price will be for total amount ordered.
Don't have a cover? How about a picture of your favorite family member, pet, flowers, actor or blog logo? Ask for more details. I have made hundreds of bookthongs for several authors using gossimer ribbon and a variety of beads including glass, plastic, and vintage. No two are exactly the same. Order yours today.

Archive for the ‘reads’ Category

Hey everyone! Hope things are well with all my loyal followers. I am just getting into the swing of things again and today you will see two new posts as a result. Crossing fingers that more are to come very soon!

Recently I was able to knock one major item off my bucket list! I was able to visit New Orleans! Yes! I will blog more on it later with some pics but will touch on a few things here today. Number one…. It was amazing despite not getting out of the French Quarter and visiting the rest of the city! I was there for the Romantic Times convention and it did not disappoint! Besides taking a walk by myself to the square I met with some new friends and walked to the cemetery suspected to be the final resting spot for Marie Laveau, got a little tipsy during a walk down Bourbon Street, bartered to buy some awesome earrings and stood on a roof top and looked down over it all one night.

Another part of this was the convention itself. Thanks to my room mate Jenni I was invited to lunch with some very awesome ladies! One of the talented women was Sara Humphreys. (Who I just realized used to be on Another World which I watched loyally from the time I was a kid with my Gramma until it went off the air in the late nineties!) Such a beautiful woman and an inspiration to someone trying to lose weight after deciding it was time to make a change in my life…. I won’t say that we were eating some delicious pizza for lunch… but the gracious lady gave me a couple of her books while I was there and despite having about 100 to chose from when I got home one of hers was one of the first couple that I pulled out of the pile to devour. And devour I did! Tall, Dark and Vampire was an amazing read and to my delight I was able to get my hands on a copy of the sequel Vampire Trouble as well. It releases July 1 so be sure to pick it up! I hope you enjoy the brief reviews below of both these tasty vampire delights! Thank you Sara for being so awesome and getting me hooked on this new series!

Olivia Hollingsworth had been haunted by the one man she had lost for centuries. One man who had only shared one night with her but she had lost her heart to for an eternity. Thoughts that she had put him behind her had been brought back to focus twenty years ago when the dreams began but she never thought that it meant that there was more to it than a life time of celibacy and the resulting sexual frustration. Seeing her “Douglas” walk into her bar wasn’t something she had expected but when he was investigating a murder that had connections to her coven she had to protect those in her care first before she trusted the man who turned her libido on after centuries in the off position.

Detective Doug Paxton had some knowledge of the paranormal world but he didn’t want to dwell on things he really didn’t want to accept. People close to him had opened his eyes to the possibility but acceptance was another thing. Walking into the bar and seeing the woman who had been haunting his very sexual dreams for what seemed like forever couldn’t be just a coincidence right? Nothing was as simple as that, especially when his investigation into recent murders kept bringing him back into her orbit and his desire for the flesh and blood version of the sexy red-head was even more intense than the connection they shared in his dreams.

Someone was out to get Olivia and it seemed to be personal but that didn’t stop her from thinking of the sexy detective constantly and wanting to find out just what connection they shared. Digging into the investigation all leads kept bringing him back to Olivia and it isn’t all good when he wakes up after being attacked. Wakes up with news that his life as he knew it had been forever changed and the woman herself was the one to decide his fate. Despite everything they must push things aside and work together now more than ever to get rid of the threat before more people lose their life to whoever has a vendetta against them.

Wow… just wow. This has the taste of one hell of a series. The spin off from Humphreys Amoveo series, this book is a great jumping off point for a fantastic vampire collection. Olivia and Doug are awesome together. Doug’s reluctance to accept his fate makes the tension in the book jump up and wrap around your heart as does Olivia’s turmoil for her part in his change. My emotions were tugged left and right throughout their story as they deal with acceptance of the past, their real connection as bloodmates and what the future holds because of who they really are. The twists and turns and revelations in this book will keep the reader on the edge of their seat! I am hungry for more already!

Moira had thought she would always be alone. Although she was happy to watch the love her sisters had found she knew if she was to fulfil her part of the prophecy she would never have a family or love of her own. There had only been one man she had ever thought of in that way anyway. Dartayous. The Druid warrior who both intrigued and frustrated her.
Dartayous had promised to keep Moira safe. One vow he took very seriously no matter how the woman turned him inside out. He could not tell her why he kept her and every other woman before her at arms length. Why he poked and prodded her instead of pulling her close and letting her know what she did to him.

Sent together to fulfill the prophecy and do their part to help release the fae from their prison they find a young babe who tugs at Moira’s heart but she had a destiny and being a mother was not a part of it and would never be with her heart belonging to the stubborn warrior with her on the journey. Taking a babe along with them will not aid them on their quest but when the woman asks to bring him along with them asks he knows he cannot deny her and say no to the woman he had ever loved, and for an immortal that was a very long time. Arriving at the destined spot they find out the old crones prediction was right and they did in fact have the key to the fae world with them the entire time but there was no easy path to follow when another has plans for Moira. Plans of a man that had already caused her and her family pain and suffering and that included making her the new Queen and taking over both worlds.
Lugus had set in motion his plans but unless the fates could be changed they could be the downfall of both the fae and the human realms forever.

Donna Grant has been a fave of mine since I read her Sisters of Magic series years ago. My addiction to her Dark Warrior series is not a secret either. So too this series, and this, the final chapter in the Druids Glen series. Moira is a strong woman and her heart is the most generous and strongest part of her as she keeps its secret desires hidden even from herself at times then opens it up to not only the man she loves but gives a part of it to another who is not as deserving when she sees his true self beneath the guise he has worn for most of his life. Dartayous is a warrior through and through but the secret he keeps hidden deters him from what he has desired most and the one that could make him happy and whole. Their journey is not easy and they are both tested but when they both are forced to chose it is one path that they both walk down, together and forever. Another great read from Ms. Grant and one I would highly recommend!

Hunter’s job as a personal trainer didn’t pay all the bills but along with his job as a bouncer at Rotten he was getting to where he wanted to be. The only place else he needed to go involved the sexy Pilates instructor Olivia. Damn but he wanted to ride her like she rode those bikes in the spin class she taught. Seeing her put on a show at the bar was beyond hot and he hoped to hell she wasn’t really into the girl that was now tight up against her. Where he needed to be.

Olivia had wanted Hunter from the first moment she saw him at the gym. Too shy to take a chance she had almost growled at his client today when she had put her claws on his toned chest in front of her. Tonight she was going to step it up though and with the help of her best friend and some dirty dancing at the club he worked at she was hopefully going to put the shyness behind her and let him know what she wanted from him.

Oh. My. Gawd. Damn it if Cassandra Carr didn’t raise the temperature even higher during this heat wave with the spontaneous combustion between Olivia and Hunter when they finally came together for the first time in a passionate, scorching exhibition. With this book being little more than a morsel it delivered a bite that was full of sinfully delicious erotic temptation. The chemistry between the two continues throughout their foray into sexting and culminates with a scene that will leave you breathless and wanting. Pick this one up and be delighted with the heat that it delivers!

This book was given to me by the author for an honest review and I honestly loved every bite of it! Releasing on July 19 from Ellora’s Cave Exotica Quickies line.

Have you all heard of the new look of Indulgence a division of Entangled Publishing? The new sexy covers are not the only thing new. Indulgence brings together classic romance, new and fresh voices, those alpha heroes we all love, and are simply great category romance reads. Shorter reads they all come with the prerequisite HEA. I can’t wait to dive in to these three new releases. If you are a fan of the Brazen line you might want to remember that Brazen may be the naughty little sister of Indulgence, but where do you think Brazen learned everything?

Here are the three latest releases!!! Yummy in more ways than one!!!!

Famously Engaged, by Robyn Thomas

Robyn Thomas

A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he’s forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling “first date”, but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake’s figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he’s afraid he’s not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it’s up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Preschool teacher Laura Nichols is celebrating her birthday and sister’s bachelorette party in Vegas. Being in Sin City is thrilling and she intends on tapping in to her wild side. Laura can’t resist the added excitement that comes with saying yes when a hunky man off the street proposes…

FBI agent David Abruzzo has been working undercover as a thug to bring down the Zacolli crime family, but his cover depends on convincing the mob he came to Vegas for a quickie wedding. If they catch on to his plan, his cover’s blown, and he’s as good as dead.

Over the course of 48 hours, David and Laura use rollercoasters, glowing condoms, and exotic male dancers to stay alive and bring the crime family down. But it will take more than Lady Luck, one night of passion, and a little Vegas magic to turn their fake marriage into something real.

Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the image of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he’ll be able to acquire LA’s most successful PR firm. But Kirin’s no easy fix. She’s stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image, and is being sued for sexual harassment by a junior staffer. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is Blake wants more than to make her over…

Kirin doesn’t need a makeover–her fans love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the sex scandal and reputation that has followed doesn’t get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can’t deny the way her body flares to life whenever he’s near.

Wow what a nice cover for a first time author!!! Congrats Brandy I can’t wait till I can get my hands on it! Here is the blurb to tempt you!

Caught:

Laurel is over her embarrassing high school crush on Quinton Ferris and even used the heartbreaking experience to get out from behind the lens of her camera. Ten years after graduation she is enjoying her dream job as a freelance photographer when her path crosses Quin again, only this time he’s the one hoping to catch more than a glimpse of her. He’s hoping she’ll forgive what a jerk he was and fall for the guy he is.

Dante Lombardi knew his estranged wife had no other choice than to ask him for help in paying for her Grandmother’s surgery. His antics aside, trying to make her jealous, he had never wanted his runaway wife more. She was more than he had ever expected in a wife. She was smart, sexy and would bring him the family he needed to secure his family inheritance. If only she would trust in the love and the heat they share whenever they got near each other.

Abby still loved Dante but she knew the truth. He only wanted her as a brood mare. He didn’t love her but his stipulation on giving the money was she forget about the divorce and give him the son he needs to keep both the villa and the business in his name. Abby still wanted him but even after the heat of passion his cool indifference cut her deeply.

Taking a leap they try again to make the connection and after Dante gets the all clear for his own health scare he pushes Abby towards giving him them family they both want. Abby’s wants nothing more than to give him a child. A son but her own health problems are now, more than ever, a part of the problem. But how can she tell him the truth? How can she tell him that she might never be able to give him what he wants? When he finds out she was hiding such a big secret from him and the truth comes out he is the one to bolt. Leaving her to go home alone and to suffer a life threatening situation without the man she loves by her side. Dante realizes too late that he might have severed the last connection he has with the woman he loves and must make a choice between trying to salvage what is left between them or holding on to a past that will mean nothing without the one he wants by his side.

This book was an emotional ride that didn’t allow the reader to do more than hang on until it came to a complete stop. Ms. Evan’s first foray into contemporary writing was a very realistic and at times hard look at relationships and the continuing work it takes to make things work. Life isn’t always easy, it isn’t always perfect and it doesn’t always follow a pattern like most romance novels. This book shows the good, the bad and the in between. It shows the turmoil and pain a heart can endure when fighting the uphill battle to keep the one you love in your life. Dante was at times an ass. He wasn’t the perfect man. He was human and showed his human flaws. Abby was indecisive and she revealed that she would rather run from a problem than to hash it out and find the answers she needed. But they were both real. They both showed that life is full of imperfections. Full of upsets. Full of hurdles that sometimes take more effort than you think you are capable of but if you work at it, talk, communicate and love someone it can be worth putting everything you have into the fight.

I received an eBook copy of this book from the publisher Entangled through Net Galley for my honest review.

Frances Hadley had hoped to make it to town and to her brothers by the end of the day and back. He joy would be to wave a cheque in front of her aunt the next day and finally be free from her rules. A lame horse, bad roads and a sore arse changed her direction and a dry bed to sleep in sounded like a good idea. With the Valentines having their annual ball there was no rooms available except the one kept for the Valentine men themselves.

Lord Jack Valentine wanted to be away from his mother’s latest match making ball so much that he left for London in less than travelable conditions. Stopping at the inn he couldn’t fault the owner for giving away his bed and found himself sharing a bed with a young lad who was out cold and who would hopefully not mind the company in the morning.

Realizing that appearances were not as they seemed with the young man, Jack agrees to help him get to London and to the family awaiting “him”. Standing on the steps where her brother once lived, Frances was stunned to find out that he had married and moved. Stranded and alone Jack couldn’t let the young woman run the streets with a killer on the loose. Especially in the neighborhood she was determined her brother was still near. When the cat is out of the bag Frances is stunned when Jack proposed marriage to stave off the scandal. Frances was compromised and there was a killer “slasher” running loose killing women of questionable reputation and if the killer found out her secret she could be in danger. Getting closer to her wasn’t going to be easy though, her brothers brutal honesty and the revelation of another family members betrayal only harden her heart more. Jack must find a way to open her eyes to the love he has for her while keeping her safe from the man who believes she should pay with her life for her reputed sins.

I really enjoyed this historical escape and want to read more of Ms. MacKenzie’s Duchess of Love series. The chemistry that Jack and Frances developed molded into an emotional and captivating read that was hard to put down. Their situations and stations were very different but the connection that grew between them was more acceptable because of Jack’s charitable nature. This however, was a small question that developed in my mind when there was a very nice build up to revealing his secret charities including a young girl who captured Frances own attention but it was never addressed further on. I would have liked to see more resolution in this matter since it was, to me, a very important part of why they worked so well together. The suspense built up with the threat of a killer searching for victims who deserved their fate because of their less than reputable situations in life was very intense and delivered in a way that kept my attention throughout. Surprising Lord Jack was a very delectable delight that kept emotions high and interest piqued throughout.

I was given an eBook copy of Surprising Lord Jack from the publisher Kensington Publishing through Net Galley.

Honey Winston had to fight for her life against the man who was standing over the body of her boss Jack. When the lights came on and she saw she was fighting the Spanish Stallion, Rafael Navarro, and T-Flacs resident bomb expert, she was floored by the revelation. The man wasn’t supposed to be here. The man who was supposed to make a woman orgasm with just a kiss should still be at the airport. Too bad a kiss wouldn’t work on her or he might have been able to distract her more to his advantage.

Navarro knew the Ice Princess could not be the one who killed his friend but someone had set him up to be there and that same someone had put 37 stab wounds into his friends body. Fighting her was not what he needed to be doing right now. Holding her in his arms was a distraction that neither could afford right at this moment no matter how much he wanted to see if he could make Honey melt.

They needed answers and obviously someone who knew the ins and outs of T-Flac was behind the murder and the set up. Partnering up to flush out the person responsible for not only the murder but a succession of bombings all across Europe they soon find more than an attraction as they both find the truth behind their nicknames. When Rafe is attacked by a woman who not only felt but smelled like Honey, their suspect list grows smaller. Trust between them in a must but when the person they believe is responsible is locked up by T-Flac in the highest security, a person Honey once called friend, it stretches it beyond limits. With the pieces falling into place, they rush to find the one link that would give them the truth once and for all but fall into a trap leaving Rafe to diffuse the most important bomb of his life.

Hot Hot Hot. Cherry Adair doesn’t just write about bomb experts dismantling intricate systems with lives attached to them. She is DA BOMB! Sizzling hot romance, dangerous and deceitful villains and sexy, intelligent heroes and heroines are all a part of the total package that the intriguing T-Flac series delivers time after time. Honey is one smart and strong heroine and she doesn’t take the easy way out in any part of her life. She fights just as hard as Rafe to find the answers to who is behind the terrorism plot as she proves to herself above all that being a rich society girl isn’t all what the tabloids print. Rafe is sexy and dangerous and his skill at his job makes him a hot commodity. His reputed skill in bed makes him an even hotter commodity for the women but his openness and his devotion to Honey make this man even more desirable. I love to read this series and count my collection of Cherry Adair T-Flac prints as one of my keeper treasures.

I received an eBook copy of Ice Cold through Net Galley for my honest review.

Some resources to find your own copy. Available in eBook, Hardcover and Paperback in most retailers

Brandee Hanson had been dumped again! This time by text. How lame! And announcing it to the entire restaurant made it even better. The customers of Boston Uncommon were going to have a laugh tonight thanks to her and her ability to humiliate herself over yet another man. And to make matters worse, her boss’s Aunt Sadie and resident “fortune teller” gives her a quick Tarot reading and her prospects were supposedly about to change for the good but…. What could be worse? The man who was supposed to be her “true love” just walked through the door and his name was “One-Night-Nick”. Well not literally, but really didn’t that just suit her track record of a love life?

Nick Wolfensen had his reasons for never going out with a woman more than once and it came down to one word. Soulmate. He didn’t want to find his and as a wolf he mated for life and he just couldn’t take a chance that someday his mate would walk into his life and she might be the wrong choice. If that dubbed him a playboy then fine. If he couldn’t get Brandee, the sexy waitress at Boston Uncommon, to say yes to even one night –not so fine.

Changing his life style or rather his job thanks to him being “involved” with a couple of incidents which involved him and his not so always law abiding brother (which was totally in the past), the cop found a new calling as a paranormal PI. When his first case involves the mayors adopted daughter he goes to Sadie for some incite but learns that Brandee has an interest in the case too. The young girl is her cousin and she wants to help and letting her get involved is just asking for trouble. Trouble that escalates when he shifts to search for the missing girl and not only Brandee and her camera is there to capture it in beautiful sepia tones but someone who reports his screw up to the big boss of all of the paranormal races. Mother Nature. Brandee’s life-long dream was to be a professional photographer and when her camera, along with parts of her memory are gone she can’t stop herself from finding out the truth. (Especially when Nick and possibly the sexiest full moon she had ever seen were involved.) With a young girl still missing, the realization that Brandee might just be his soulmate and a rash of other obstacles to leap through and maneuver around, Nick must find a way to smooth over not only Mother Natures qualms about his missteps but listen to his heart and keep Brandee in his life for more than one night.

First of all I have to say this book is NOT realistic! Number one reasoning behind my opinion is the fact that no self-respecting hunk of a were-wolf would wear a polo shirt! Fans of Ms. Chase’s last series will love the fact that a few of her beloved characters make their way into the storyline and especially for one character out in public at Boston Uncommon. Mayhem and madness is the main plot line of this book. It is funny, smart, snarky and chaotic and very fast paced which to some might feel a bit disjointed. I loved it as I did the first series. Paranormal creatures abound from Nick’s wolf to Sly’s vampire to brownies and ghosts and gods and shifters (oh my) and of course the aforementioned Mother Nature herself. (Which I totally hear in the voices of Jingle and Jangle!) If you are looking for a fun book that pokes at more than its share of non-traditional romance topics (for example stomachs that react to treats made with milk for our lactose intolerant heroine), that has a plethora of paranormal creatures and two lovers that race through a madcap adventure in the hopes of staying together for more than one night than this book is for you! Can’t wait to see what mischief and madness Ms. Chase has planned for the next book in the series.